Low cost parachute

ABSTRACT

A parachute comprising a plurality of gores is disclosed. At least one of the gores comprises an inflation pocket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/401,687 filed Aug. 7, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a parachute. More specifically it relates to a method for constructing a parachute and the parachute constructed by this method, wherein the parachute can be constructed quickly and at low cost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Parachutes are well known in the art for slowing the decent of object through the atmosphere, typically objects released from aircraft. Known parachutes typically comprise a plurality of gores connected between a plurality of radials. Each radial is then connected to a line secured to the object. These parachutes are costly as the connections between each gore and radial are time consuming. Further, connecting all the gores and radials is complicated by the bulkiness of the parachute as it is built by successively connecting more gores and radials.

[0004] The known parachute construction is based on the use of woven fabric-type materials. Inexpensive non-woven fabrics and films cannot be used in the same manner as woven materials. This keeps the costs high when using non-woven materials for parachute construction.

[0005] Clearly, then, there is a longfelt need for a low cost parachute that does not require the costly and time consuming construction of known parachutes and can be constructed with low cost materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention broadly comprises a method for the construction of a parachute, and parachutes made by that method. The parachute comprises a plurality of gores. At least one of the gores comprises an inflation pocket.

[0007] A general object of the present invention is to provide a parachute that can be manufactured quickly and inexpensively.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a parachute than can be constructed with inexpensive non-woven fabrics or films.

[0009] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of the invention in view of the drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical parachute constructed by known methods;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a view of a reinforcement strip and two gores of a typical parachute constructed by known methods;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a schematic of the construction of a single gore of a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic of the construction of a single gore of a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of a single gore of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 7 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a single gore of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 8 illustrates an inflated canopy of an embodiment of the present invention; and,

[0019]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the inflated canopy shown in FIG. 8, taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] It should be appreciated that, in the detailed description of the invention which follows, like reference numbers on different drawing views are intended to identify identical structural elements of the invention in the respective views.

[0021]FIG. 1 shows parachute 1 constructed using known methods. Parachute 1 comprises gores 2 and radials 3 brought together at crown 5, and lines 8 connected to the ends of the radials. Radials 3 typically comprise reinforcement strips 10. Each gore typically comprises 3 to 5 panels sewn together for a personnel type sized parachute. The gores are then connected to reinforcement strips 10, as shown in FIG. 2. As each additional gore and strip is attached, the parachute gets bulkier and more difficult to work with. When all the gores are connected together, reinforcement skirt band 7 is then sewn around the perimeter of the canopy and reinforcement vent band 4 is sewn over the crown, requiring additional time and effort. Lines 8 are then connected to the canopy.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Parachute 11 comprises gores 12 joined at crown 15. The gores are each connected to the adjacent gore at connections 16. In a preferred embodiment, these two connections, at the crown and at connection 16, are the only connections between the gores. However, it should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other configurations of attachments between the gores are possible, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. Aperture 13 is open from the connections 16 to crown 15. Flare 19 is located at the opposite end of the gore from the crown. The lines are connected to the flares at connection 21. In a preferred embodiment, each gore is made of a single piece of material. However, it should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that gores can be made of multiple pieces of fabric, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

[0023]FIG. 4 shows the construction of each gore in a first embodiment. First, a rectangular piece of material is cut, having long sides 12A and short sides 12B. (It should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that non-rectangular gores may be used, and these modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.) The gore is then folded along a line parallel to long sides 12A to bring together points A and C. The seam AC to B is then sealed. This forms inflation pocket 25 at first end 30. At the opposite end 32, the material is collected together to a point 21 to form flare 19. Each individual gore is then connected at points 16 and 22, as shown in FIG. 4. In a preferred embodiment, these are the only two connection points between the gores. However, it should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that more connections between the gore may be made between these two points to control the inflation rate of the canopy, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

[0024] The flare 19 is not included in a second embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 5. In this embodiment the gores are connected at points 16 and 22, and the lines may be connected to the gores at connections 16.

[0025]FIGS. 6 and 7 show third and fourth exemplary embodiments of the gores and inflation pockets of the present invention. Gore 12 with long sides 12A and short sides 12B has a portion of a first end 30 folded over to overlap the gore. The long sides are then sealed along the overlapped portion, forming inflation pocket 25. In a preferred embodiment, the gores are then connected at points 16 and 22. In FIG. 6, the lines may be connected to the connections 16. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment wherein the gores 12 further comprise flares 19. Additional material 18 at second end 32 is gathered to form flare 19. The lines may be connected to the flares 19.

[0026] When the present invention is deployed, some air passes through the apertures, which may be open. However, each inflation pocket inflates, which closes the apertures at the crown of the canopy. In this manner, the entire canopy is inflated. FIG. 8 is an illustration of an inflated canopy of an embodiment of the present invention. Inflation pockets 25 are inflated, closing apertures 13. Thus, instead of acting as a single unit like the traditional canopy, each gore at first inflates separately at the crown. Then, as the gores are inflated, they work together to close the apertures and trap air as a single unit. FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the inflated canopy shown in FIG. 8, showing the inflation pockets 25.

[0027] All of the drawings of the present invention show canopies wherein each of the gores comprises an inflation pocket. However, it should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that a canopy could be constructed with some gores comprising an inflation pocket and some gores not comprising an inflation pocket. All canopies having at least one gore comprising an inflation pocket are within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

[0028] Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for making a parachute canopy comprising the steps of: creating an inflation pocket in at least one of a plurality of gores; and, connecting said plurality of gores together to form said canopy.
 2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said gores is rectangular.
 3. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of gores are connected together proximate the inflation pockets of each of said gores.
 4. The method recited in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of gores comprises an inflation pocket.
 5. A method for making a parachute canopy comprising the steps of: folding a plurality of rectangular gores in half parallel to a pair of long sides, each of said gores having two short sides and two long sides; sealing a first short side of each of said plurality of gores to form an inflation pocket in each of said gores; connecting said plurality of gores together proximate said inflation pockets; and, connecting adjacent corners of a second short side of said plurality of gores.
 6. A method for making a parachute canopy comprising the steps of: folding over an end portion of a first end of a plurality of rectangular gores, said gores comprising two short sides and two long sides, wherein said first end is one of said short sides and a second end is an opposite short side; sealing said long sides of said folded over end portion to form an inflation pocket in each of said gores; connecting said plurality of gores proximate said inflation pockets; and, connecting adjacent corners of said short sides at said second end of said plurality of gores.
 7. A parachute canopy comprising: a plurality of gores, wherein at least one of said gores comprising an inflation pocket.
 8. The canopy recited in claim 7 wherein said at least one inflation pocket is at a first end of said gore, each of said gores are adjacent to two of said plurality of gores, and each of said gores are connected to each of said two adjacent gores in at least two places along long sides of said gore.
 9. The canopy recited in claim 7 wherein each of said gores is rectangular, said gores having two long sides and two short sides.
 10. The canopy recited in claim 8 wherein one of said short sides is said first end, said inflation pocket is formed by folding said gore in half parallel to said long sides and sealing a seam along said first end.
 11. The canopy recited in claim 8 wherein one of said short sides is said first end, said inflation pocket is formed by folding a portion of said first end of said gore over and sealing seams along said long sides where said portion overlaps said gore.
 12. The canopy recited in claim 7 wherein each gore further comprises a flare at a second end, said second end opposite said first end, said flare comprising a collection of material at said second end.
 13. The canopy recited in claim 7 wherein each gore comprises an inflation pocket. 